It was certainly a slow weekend at the US box office, with no new movie coming that really excited audiences. It allowed Argo, which has been showing strong legs, to top the box office on its third week of release. Ben Affleck’s film dropped only 24% from last weekend to add another $12 million, for a total of $60 million so far.

The highest new entry was Cloud Atlas, which placed third with $9.4 million. It a disappointing but not surprising for a movie which may look too unusual and complex for the average moviegoer. Nor has it been helped by glowing reviews.

Despite it being Halloween in a few days, Silent Hill: Revelation took only $8 million, far less than the $20 million the first Silent Hill movie took on its debut. The only other new entry in the top 10 was Fun Size, which tanked with just $4 million to place 10th. Even that was better than the Gerard Butler surfing flick Chasing Mavericks, which made just $2.2 million on its opening.

While the studios had little cheer at the US box office, MGM & Sony will be far happier about the debut of Skyfall in 25 international markets. The film took a stonking $77 million, including what’s believed to be the second biggest three-day opening ever in the UK, behind Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2. It’s opened ahead on Quantum Of Solace in nearly all markets its debuted in, suggesting it will become the highest grossing Bond to date, eventually overtaking Casino Royale’s $430 million.

While each of the previous Paranormal Activity movies has opened stronger than the last, Paranormal Activity 4 broke that streak with a soft $30 million debut. It will still be an incredibly profitable film, as it only cost $5 million to make, but it’s certainly a dip from part 3’s $52.6 million.

However Paranount can console itself with the fact that elsewhere in the world the movie has opened stronger than the last film. That said, with dodgy reviews and apparently soft word of mouth, it may not hold up stunningly well in the rup up to Halloween.

Although it’s a rather made up record, Warner is trumpeting that Argo has had the best hold of any live action movie ever released outside the November and December holiday window, dropping just 15% from its debut. It added another $16.3 million, suggesting amazing word of mouth.

Other than PA4, the only other new movie to hit the top 10 was the Tyler Perry starrer Alex Cross, which opened to a disappointing $11.75 million. Despite a marketing campaign that tried to sell the film outside Perry’s core African American audience, trying to lure in James Patterson fans, 74% of the those buying tickets were black. It’s not a great start and is likely to nix plans that were already in motion for a sequel.

Taken 2 has topped the US box office for a second week running, taking another $22.5 million to take it total to $86 million after 10 days. While the holdover stayed top, Ben Affleck’s Argo was a strong second, outpacing many people’s expectations by taking $20 million to place second on the charts. It also got a very good reaction from audiences, suggesting it should have a good run at cinemas.

Sinister placed third with a good but not amazing $18 million. As it only cost $3 million to make, it’ll be very profitable, even if it’s now unlikely to reach true horror heights.

Here Comes The Boom did less well, marking a low point for Kevin James as a leading man with $12 million to place fifth. Although not a disaster, it’s less than Sony had hoped. Seven Psychopaths did even less well, taking just $4.2 million to place ninth. Although it was showing on fewer screens than many other releases, its per screen average still wasn’t great.

Take a look below for the US box office top 10 for the weekend of October 12th-14th.

Argo certainly has a good cast, and some new character posters are trying to prove it, with pics of Ben Affleck, John Goodman and Alan Arkin arriving via the movie’s Facebook page.

Argo ‘chronicles the life-or-death covert operation to rescue six Americans, which unfolded behind the scenes of the Iran hostage crisis – the truth of which was unknown by the public for decades. On November 4, 1979, as the Iranian revolution reaches its boiling point, militants storm the US embassy in Tehran, taking 52 Americans hostage. But, in the midst of the chaos, six Americans manage to slip away and find refuge in the home of the Canadian ambassador. Knowing it is only a matter of time before the six are found out and likely killed, a CIA “exfiltration” specialist named Tony Mendez (Affleck) comes up with a risky plan to get them safely out of the country. A plan so incredible, it could only happen in the movies.’

Affleck also directs the movie, which hits US cinemas in October, with a UK release set for November 7th.

You’d have thought a poster featuring Ben Affleck’s giant face would scare as many people off as it attracted, but at least they’ve made it a bluey-grey so it’s more difficult to see who it is. However the movie itself seems well worth a look. Argo ‘chronicles the life-or-death covert operation to rescue six Americans, which unfolded behind the scenes of the Iran hostage crisis – the truth of which was unknown by the public for decades. On November 4, 1979, as the Iranian revolution reaches its boiling point, militants storm the US embassy in Tehran, taking 52 Americans hostage. But, in the midst of the chaos, six Americans manage to slip away and find refuge in the home of the Canadian ambassador. Knowing it is only a matter of time before the six are found out and likely killed, a CIA “exfiltration” specialist named Tony Mendez (Affleck) comes up with a risky plan to get them safely out of the country. A plan so incredible, it could only happen in the movies.’

Affleck also directs, and as he’s a better helmer than actor, Argo should be worth checking out – and it’s already had a few successful festival screenings. The movie hits US cinemas in October, with a UK release set for November 7th.

Ben Affleck has proven himself very adept as a director and on the evidence of this trailer, he may have another success on his hands with Argo. Based on true events, the thriller Argo chronicles the life-or-death covert operation to rescue six Americans, which unfolded behind the scenes of the Iran hostage crisis–the truth of which was unknown by the public for decades. It involved going to Iran saying they were location scouting for a fake sci-fi flick in order to smuggle the hostages out. It’s out October 12th.

In the war between the rival Snow White movies, Snow White & the Huntsman is certainly winning on the style front. It looks very cool, which should stand it in good stead when it arrives in cinemas on June 1st. It may be coming after Mirror Mirror, but the smart money is on Huntsman, starring Chris Hemsworth, Kristen Stewart and Charlize Theron, to win at the box office.

Enjoy the new pics from the film above and below and under that are fresh images from Argo and The Hobbit.

Although hardly anyone in the pic above is recognisable, that’s Ben Affleck in the middle, in this pic from Argo, which he both directs and stars in. The movie tells the true-life tale of a daring CIA plan to get hostages out of Iran in the late 70s by pretending they wanted to make a movie. It’ll be out later this year.

And we’ll finish off with Bilbo surrounding by dwarves in The Hobbit. Part one of the two part adaptation hits cinemas this December.

Ben Affleck has turned out to be a far better director than many would have expected from his spotty acting career, to the point where some people actually get a little bit excited when they know he’s gonna bring out a new movie. If you’re one of those people, then mark October 5th in your diary, as that’s when Aergo is due to hit UK cinemas.

The very intriguing movie is based on a true story, which the synopsis says, ‘chronicles the life-or-death covert operation to rescue six Americans, which unfolded behind the scenes of the Iran hostage crisis – the truth of which was unknown by the public for decades. On November 4, 1979, as the Iranian revolution reaches its boiling point, militants storm the US embassy in Tehran, taking 52 Americans hostage. But, in the midst of the chaos, six Americans manage to slip away and find refuge in the home of the Canadian ambassador. Knowing it is only a matter of time before the six are found out and likely killed, a CIA “exfiltration” specialist named Tony Mendez (Affleck) comes up with a risky plan to get them safely out of the country. A plan so incredible, it could only happen in the movies.’

That plan involves creating a fake sci-fi movie, enlisting help from Hollywood and pretending they’re looking to shoot it in Iran. The film also stars Bryan Cranston, John Goodman, Kyle Chandler, Alan Arkin, Scoot McNairy(who’s pictured on the piece of paper in the image above), Michael Parks, Taylor Schilling, Clea DuVall, and Tate Donovan.

Warner released the first image from the movie as part of their 2012 preview, letting us see Affleck’s spiffy new beard!